The Guardian has launched a digital Europe edition with an expanded presence across the continent in an attempt to focus “a European lens on world issues”, its editor-in-chief, Katharine Viner, has announced.
The fifth digital edition of the Guardian, which launches on Wednesday, follows its UK, US, Australia and international editions.
Viner said Guardian Europe would be a site that “showcases original, independent journalism and highlights the issues that matter to them”.
She added: “The Guardian’s correspondents have been covering European affairs for more than 200 years, and we’re delighted to be expanding even further with new reporters, specialists in crucial Europe-wide themes such as the environment, culture, community affairs and sport, and an array of new European columnists.
“In today’s globally connected world, we believe there’s a great need, and a demand, for a European lens on world issues.”
The Guardian already has a deeply engaged readership and fast-growing revenues in Europe, while European readers are the Guardian’s most engaged audience group outside the UK.
Readers across Europe will be automatically switched to the new digital edition, while other users can also select it if they wish from a drop down menu in the top right hand corner of the desktop site, the menu bar on mobile browsers and via settings in the Guardian’s app for iOS and Android.
In a letter to readers, Viner says the launch will be underpinned by recent editorial investment in Europe to build on the Guardian’s well-established network of European correspondents.
The company’s other international editions already reach large audiences, with Guardian US reaching more than 40 million unique browsers each month, while Guardian Australia has become one of that country’s most-read and influential news sites, with more than 11 million unique users per month.
Anna Bateson, the chief executive of the titles’ parent company, Guardian Media Group, said: “Over the last decade, we have vastly increased the Guardian’s global reach, readership and revenues; now attracting more than 1 million paying supporters each month.
“Readers tell us they support the Guardian because they believe, like we do, in robust independent media that is open to all, funded by many, and beholden to no one.
“Our new Europe edition and our bold new marketing campaign carry forward that message and will help us to cultivate even deeper relationships with readers, advertisers and other partners who believe in our mission.”
The new edition will launch come with an exclusive investigation into air quality across the European continent and a wide range of other news stories and features.
This week’s launch reflects a further deepening of the Guardian’s already strong editorial investment in Europe. As well as the appointment in July of new specialist reporters for the environment, culture, sport and community affairs, plus a correspondent in Scandinavia and a dedicated live blogger for Europe, it has today announced a line-up of new commentators, opinion writers and columnists.
Rokhaya Diallo, Nathalie Tocci, Fatma Aydemir, Alexander Hurst and Emma Dabiri will write monthly, joining our longstanding columnist on European affairs Timothy Garton Ash.
In addition the new edition will feature commentary from a wide range of voices from across Europe including Oleksandr Mykhed, Fintan O’Toole; Helene von Bismarck, Anna Gromada; Julia Cagé, Mithu Sanyal, Thomas Piketty, Helene von Bismarck, Lorenzo Marsili, Shada Islam, Daniel Kehlmann Caroline de Gruyter, Carlo Rovelli, Georgi Gospodinov and many others.
The new edition will include a dedicated Europe live blog, and special editions of the Guardian’s Today in Focus, Politics Weekly and Football Weekly podcasts.
To celebrate the launch, the firm said Guardian readers were being invited to sign up to a revamped This is Europe newsletter, and join a free online Guardian Live event on Thursday 28 September at 7pm BST in which the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley, will host a discussion with MEPs, leading political scientists and experts to explore the biggest challenges Europe is facing today.
• Join a free online Guardian Live event on Thursday 28 September, 7pm BST, where the Guardian’s Europe correspondent, Jon Henley, will host an interactive discussion with MEPs, leading political scientists and experts, to explore the biggest challenges Europe faces today. Tickets available here.
